Folder for a continuous web of paper



May 10, 1966 R. M. I oAsE FOLDER FOR A CONTINUOUS WEB OF PAPER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l?, 1964 May 10, 1966 R` M. LoAsE FOLDER FOR ACONTINUOUS WEB OF PAPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1964 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND M. LOASE MMM/? ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M' Ohio FiledJune 17, 1964, Ser. No. 375,89) 6 Claims. (Ci. 2'7-73) This inventionrelates to a folding machine for paper, and particularly, to anapparatus for receiving a continuous web of paper and folding the web ina zig-zag manner.

The present invention is especially adaptable for zigzag folding of acontinuous web of successive business forms and for distributing theforms in an overlapping manner along a horizontal table. It is to beunderstood, however, that the present invention is not limited to thefolding of only business forms, but may be used for folding webs of anytype of sheet material, as for example, when the sheet material isfolded in this manner for packaging.

For purposes of illustration of the invention, however, the foldingapparatus shown in the drawings is intended to be mounted on thedischarge end of a printing press or a collating machine which hasprocessed a continuous web of successive business forms. Commonly, theweb may have a line of transverse perforations in order that one formwill lie tightly against an adjoining form, thus, enabling the maximumnumber of forms to be contained within a given space.

It is particularly desirable, for high-speed production, to have afolded web delivered along a horizontal table, primarily in order that agroup of the folds may easily be separated for packaging withoutdisturbing the continuous flow of the folds from the folding apparatus.The present invention is directed to a folding apparatus which smoothlydelivers a continuous supply of folds onto a horizontal delivery tableand is constructed for high-speed production in order that the foldingapparatus will not hold back the output of the printing machine,collator, or the like, from which the folding apparatus may directlyreceive the web.

A basic advantage of the folding apparatus according to the presentinvention is the ability to receive and accurately fold high-speed websof different thicknesses .and to distribute the folds uniformly along ahorizontal delivery table, regardless of the thickness, surface quality,stiffness, moisture content, or other variable factors which may hepresent in different webs of paper.

Accordingly, a primary object of the presentinvention is to provide azig-zag folding apparatus which cooperates with a delivery conveyor inorder to receive and fold a high-speed paper web accurately anduniformly, and to distribute the folds of the web evenly onto thedelivery conveyor.

As another object, the present invention provides a folding apparatuswith a device for consistently spacing the web folds in the proper orderalong a delivery conveyor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a web foldingapparatus which will precisely fold webs of different thicknesses,surface quality or stiffness, and consistently space the zig-zag foldsuniformly along a horizontal delivery table.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a webfolding apparatus which includes a sub- ICC stantally horizontaldelivery conveyor, and is adapted to fold and crease a continuous paperweb along vpredetermined parallel lines on the web and to deliver thefolds uniformly onto the conveyor with a corresponding edge of each foldlying substantially in a common plane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings- FIG. l is a somewhat schematic elevational View of theweb folding apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view of only the delivery conveyorshowing the path of the belts which form 'the conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the folding cylinders showingon an enlarged scale details of the construction of the cylinders; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of the stripping means which release thefolded edges of the web from the folding cylinders.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, FIG. 1 shows, in a somewhat schematic manner, theoverall construction and arrangement of the folding apparatus and thepath of the continuous folds 16 of the web 12 as the folds are deliveredalong the supporting top 14 of a delivery table, generally referred toas 15.

In FIG. l, the web 12 of paper is shown entering the folding machine` inthe upper left-hand corner as it is received from a printing press, orthe like, and is directed over a power-driven roller 17 downwardly intoa feed chute 19. It is to be understood, however, that reference to aweb is intended to include several webs which are overlaid on top of oneanother, as is commonly used to form multiple-copy business forms. Asmentioned above, it is also common to provide the web with uniformlyspaced perforations which lie transversely across the web and serve thepurpose of allowing one form to be easily separated from an adjacentform.

The feed chute 19 which is employed includes a series of rods 22 whichare positioned in a staggered relationship at an angle slightly fromvertical. The rods are retained by the bars 23 and 24 which are mountedat the end to the main side frames (not shown) of the folding apparatus.Typically, the side frames may be extensions from the printing press,collator, or the like. The feed chute 19 is constructed to cause aslight corrugated effect in the web (across its length) in order toprovide the web 12 with linear rigidity as it is directed into thefolding apparatus.

Fixed to the parallel arranged shafts 27 and 28, which are rotatablymounted .within the side frames, are a pair of folding cylindersti and32 which are spaced substantially adjacent each other and which arepower driven in timed relationship so that the surface speed of thecylinders is the same as the speed of the web 12.

Mounted longitudinally and diametrically opposite on each cylinder,below the peripheral surface, are two pairs of folding jaws 35 and 36which are constructed to open and close as the cylinders 30 and 32 arecounter-rotated by a suitable power source (not shown).

Spaced from the folding jaws 35 and 36, on each of the cylinders 30 and32, there is mounted a pivotable tucker blade 4G having a tip 41. Theblade tip 41 is adapted to engage the web 12, and tuck a small portionof the web in between the folding jaws 35 and 36 mounted on the oppositecylinder when the folding jaws are in the open position. Each tuckerblade 40 is mounted substantially radially within a rod 42 which isspaced within the cylinders 30 and 32 parallel to the axes 44 and 46 ofthe cylinders. The rod 42 is adapted to rotate slightly,

Patented May I0, 1966 is the cylinders 30 and 32 rotate, by a lever 49which is :lamped over the end of the rod 42 and which carries on )ne enda roller 50 that follows within a` box cam 54 which is stationarilymounted on the side frame atthe :nd of each cylinder. The box cam 54 iscircular in ;hape except for the rise 56 near the top of the cam.

Referring to FIG. 1,'when the left cylinder 31) rotates slockwise, theroller reaches the rise 56 in the box :am 54 causing the lever to rotateclockwise. The rise 56 in the box cam is so positioned that the tip 41of the :ucker blade 40 will advance clockwise, ahead of the surface ofthe cylinder 3i), immediately before the tip of the tucker blade 40picks up the web'12 coming from the feed chute 19. As the blade tip 41picks up the web 12, the box cam 54 is so formed that thetip 41 of thetucker blade 4t? will begin to move counterclockwise in relation to thefolding cylinder 30. As the blade tip 41 tucks a small portion of theweb 12 into the open jaws 35 and 36, the peripheral speed of the bladetip 41 will be precisely the same as the speed of the web 12. Otherwise,since the surface speed of the cylinder is the same as the web speed, ifthe blade 40 did not retract by rotating counterclockwise as it picks upthe web, the speed of the blade tip 41 would be faster than the webspeed due to the fact that the tip of the tucker blade extends radiallyoutward from the surface of the cylinder.

`This retracting of the blade tip 41 prevents the web from tearing aswill happen with a rigidly mounted tucker blade. Furthermore, the timedretraction of blade tip 41 enables it to follow and remain in a preciseengaged relationship .withithe row of cross performations as the web 12is pushed into and around the jaw edge, and thus requiring that theblade tip Y41 travels slower than the folding jaws 35. and 36, after thetip picks up the web. When the tucker blade 49 is fully engaged betweenthe foldingtjaws '35 and 36, which is essentially at the point when theblade 40 lies in a reference plane passing through the center axis ofthe vfolding cylinder, that is, the position shown in FIG. 1, the tip 41of the tucker blade is nov longer retracted inr'elation to the cylinder30. Instead, the rod 42 in which the tucker blade 40 is mounted, remainsin a fixed position in relation to the cylinder on which'it is mounteddue to the fact that the roller 50 is then within the circular portionof the box cam 54.

As the cylinders 3l) and 32 continue to rotate to the position shown inFIG. 1, the folding jaws and 36 are closed tightly on a small portion ofthe web12 which has been inserted within the jaws 35 and 36 by thetucker blade 40. This closing of the jaws is accomplished by the slightrotation of a lever 61) which is mounted on one end of the rod 62 which,in turn, supports the movable jaw 36. A compression spring 64 holds thejaws tightly closed after the roller 67, carried by the lever 61), dropsoff the circular surface 69 of a C-shaped cam 72 which is also mountedto one of the side frames of the folding apparatus. f

Since both of the cylinders 30 and 32 contain two pairs of folding jaws36 and 35 and two tucker blades 4t?, each of the cylinders 30 and 32requires both a box cam 54 and a C-shaped cam 72 in order to control thepivoting movements of the movable folding jaw 36 and the tucker blade40. Preferably, the cams 54 and 72 are adjustably mounted on the sideframes (not shown) in order to acquire the precise timing and spacing asthe tucker blades enters the folding jaws 35 and 36.

Also mounted to the side frames of the folding apparatus and spacedadjacent the bottom portion of each cylinder 30 and 32, is a strippingmember 77 which is adapted to engage the edges 78 and 79 of a fold 10and releasethe edges from between the folding jaws 35 and 36, which havebeen opened by the cam 72 slightly before the folding jaws reach thestripping member 77.

The stripping members 77, one of which is shown in details in FIG. 4,include an elongated bar 80 which is adjustably mounted on a rod 82 bythe set screws 84.

f of the pin 87 will readilyl engage the edges 7S or 79 of the folds 10and will cam theredges downwardly along the pins onto a curved shelf 94which is formed as part of the elongated bar 80. The shelf includes a`rounded nose 95 which allows the folded edge to drop smoothly off theshelf 94.

The stripping pins 87 are retained within the elongated bar S0 by theset screws 97 and are adapted to be adjusted longitudinally when theelongated barV S0Y is adjusted on the rod 82. By theuadjustablemount-ingof the pins 87 and the elongated bar 80, it is possible to setthe stripping member 77 accurately `in order to acquire the smoothestand fastest stripping action of the folded edgesV 78 and 79 of the 'web12 from the opened n jaws 35 and 36. The adjustments which are providedare especially desirable when webs of different thickness and fstiffness are to be run at different times through the foldingapparatus.

Spaced substantially midway between the stripping members 77 is a powerdriven roller 100 which is adapted to support the center portion of afold 10, the endsof l which are resting on the shelf 94 ofthe strippingmemj ber 77. Preferably, the roller 160 is positioned to supr` port thecenter portion of the last fold to leave the cylinders 30 and 32, plusthe end portion of a few preceding folds, slightly above'thesupportingshelf 94 of the strippingv members 77. This has been founddesirable in order to obtain accurate control over the releasing of theedges of the folds from the stripping members 77. If the folds areallowed to sag between the stripping members 77,'

several folds may drop together which can allow one According to apreferred embodiment of the invention,

the roller 1116 is incorporated as part of a belt-'typedelivery-conveyor 105 which transports the folds 11i` of the web 12horizontally on the delivery table Y15. Preferably, the conveyor 1115comprisesa frame 196 and a series of parallel spaced endless belts 107which kproceed around a roller 109 ,mounted on the forward end of theframe 1116 and another roller 111 adjustably mounted I bythe screws 113on the oppositeend of the frame' 1056.

Referring to FIG. '2, the conveyor Ibelts 1117 `are directedupwardlyraround the delivery roller to form a loop 113, which is dened,in` addition to the delivery roller 1019, by the three 'guide rollers115, 116 and 117. The guide rolle-r 116 is mounted on -a shaft 121Dwhich extends into a pair of mounting blocks 122,A one being spaced 'on.each side of the conveyor 105. The/.mounting blocks 122 also retain theends of the shaft 124 which supports the delivery roller 100. Theremaining two guide rollers 115 and 117 are mounted on .shafts 126 and128, respectively, the ends of which are retained by a pair of largermounting blocks 13(l,roneyblock 'being' spaced also on each sideof theconveyor 4105.

The delivery roller 11N) and guideroller 116 are adjust-able verti-callyin relation to the remaining portion of the conveyor and in relation tothe stripping mem- 'f bers 77 rby a knob 135. The knob is kadapted torotate a worm gear 137 which, in turn, rotates a pinion 140 to cause an'engaging 'rack 142, which. is vertically mounted on the blocks 122, tomove up or down in relation to the blocks 134). It will be seen fromFIG. 2,

that due to the spacing of lthe delivery roller 100 andl the guiderollers 11.5, 116 and 117, which direct vthe S -roller 116', which aremounted on the blocks 122, may be moved vertically without affecting thetension preset within the belts 107 by the screw 113. The guide roller116 will compensate for the belt length required by the delivery roller100 as the delivery roller and guide roller 116 are adjusted vertically.

The larger mounting blocks 130 are horizontally slidable on the conveyorframe 106 and carry with them the delivery roller 100 and all of guiderollers 115, 116, land 117, since the mounting block 122 is slidablymounted within the larger block 130. A hand knob 150 is provided torotate another set of pinions 152 which engage with a set of racks 154,one of which is horizontally mounted on each side of the conveyor frame106. It will be apparent that the delivery roller 100 and three Vguiderollers 115, 116 and 117 are all adjustable together in a horizontaldirection without ch-anging the belt tension.

By providing the delivery roller 100 with a mechanism for iineadjustment both vertically and horizontally, it has been found that thedelivery roller 100 may be precisely positioned in relation to thestripping members 77 and the delivery table 15 so that when combinedwith the vertical adjustment of the table 15, the folding apparatus willperform equally well with webs of different thickness and stiffness.

That is, the thickness or weight and stiffness of each fold are theprimary factors which determine the extent of web sag between the shelf94 of the forward stripping member 77 and the supporting roll as shownin FIG. l. Thus by precisely spacing the roll 100 relative to theforward stripping member 77, the sag of the folds is controlled and llowof the edges 79 around the nose 95 is controlled precisely to produce auniform flow of folds 10 along the delivery table 15.

The Ebase of the delivery table and included conveyor` 105 consists of arectangularly shaped frame member 160 which is supported by four wheels162 in order to permit the delivery table 15 to be moved independentlyfrom the folding cylinders and 32 and thereby enable the delivery table15 to be used for other purposes, for example, for serving more than oneset of folding cylinders mounted on separate printing machines which arein use at different times, or to allow access to the press when rewinderis used instead of folder.

Mounted on top of the rectangular frame 160 by the cross members 163 andthe angle brackets 164 are a pair of screw jacks 166, the top of whichsupports the underneath side of the conveyor framej106. The screw jacks166 are adjustable together by a hand wheel 16S which is adapted toturn, simultaneously the threaded heads 169 of the jacks 166 through -aset of sprockets 170 connected together by an endless chain 172. Thisparallel adjustment provided between the base frame 160 and conveyorframe 106 has ibeen found desirable in order to accurately space thedelivery table 15 from the stripping members 77, so that, when combinedwith the independent adjustability of the delivery roller 100, aconsistently uniform spacing of the folds 10 is obtained along thehorizontal table 15. The vertical adjustment of the delivery table 15,by itself, however, will not' produce the consistent results obtainablefrom combining the delivery roller 100 and its fully independentadjustment mechanism. This is especially true when webs of differentthickness, stiffness and surface condition are fed through the foldingapparatus since thinner or lighter weight webs tend to sag more and laycloser together and usually require a higher position of the table 15and a closer position of the roll 100 relative to the nose 95 6 the webonto the table 15 with slightly greater spacing between each fold.

Referring to FIG. 3 which shows a detailed view of the mounting of thetucker blade 40 and the mounting of the folding jaws 35 and 36, it willbe seen that the tucker blade 40 is mounted within a slot 180 formedwithin the rod 42 and is retained therein by a series of bolts 184having a pin 186 projecting from the end which extends into acorresponding series of holes Within the tucker blade 40. A supportingplate 188 is placed adjacent the tucker blade 40 within the slot 180 andis held firmly against the tucker blade 40 by a series of compressionsprings 190 which are adjus-tably retained therein by the correspondingset screws 192. In order to remove the tucker blade, the bolts 184 Iaremerely unscrewed part way which alllows the blade to be pulled tout ofthe slot.

As explained above, the tucker blade 40 is adapted to rotate slightly asdetermined by the lever 49 which has a cam follower or roller 40supported on one end. The spring-pressure on the tucker blade 40 ispro-vided to permit the movable jaw 36 to press the tucker blade firmlyagainst the fixed jaw 35 and to enable the tucker blade 40 to slide outof lthe closed jaws 35 and 36 once the tucker blade 40 has passed thefully eng-aged central position, shown in FIG. 1. The folding jaws 35and 36 are provided with a rounded engaging portion 'Which enables thetucker blade 40 to insert the web 12 easily into the jaws and to preventthe web 12 from creasing except for lalong the line where the-blade 40engages the web. Also, the rounded portion 195 enables the tucker blade40 to withdraw easily from the closed jaws after the blade passes thefully engaged position.

For fine adjustment, the lever 49 `is adjustably mounted on the reducedend portion 193 of the rod 42 by means of a clamping arrangement whichis tightened to the rod at the desired position by the screw200.

As mentioned above, the folding jaw 35 is rigidly mounted to the foldingcylinders by a series of countersunk screws 202 and the movable jaw 36is pivotally mounted about the shaft 62 through a supporting bar 206which supports the jaw 36 on one end by a series of countersunlc screws268. The folding jaws are held normally open, against the force of thecompression spring 64 acting on a pin 210 extending through one end ofthe lever 60, by the cam follower or roller 67 mounted on the other endof the lever 60. As the tucker Iblade 40 and folding jaws 35 and 36advance towards the fully engaged position, the jaws are constructed toclose at the point when the roller 67 reaches the flat section 214 ofthe C-shaped cam 72. As the tucker blade 40 and jaws 36 and 35 move pastthe central fully engaged position, the roller 67 moves into the opensection 216 of the C-shaped cam 72 which causes the folding jaws tolbite against the web 12 as the tucker blade 40 withdraws and therebycreases the web 12 along the line which was engaged bythe tucker blade.

As the cylinders 30 'and 32 continue to rotate, substantially past thefully engaged position, the roller 67 picks up the outer surface 69 ofthe other end of the C- shaped cam 72 and rotates the shaft 62, shown inFIG. 3, counterclockwise, aga-inst the force of the compressing spring64. This opens the jaws 35 and 36 so that the folded edge 79 of the web12 may be released by the stripping member 77.

A ller bar 220 is mounted longitudinally along the outer surface of thecylinders and adjacent the movable folding jaw 36, 'by a series ofcountersunk screws 222. The outer surface 225 of the filler bar 220conforms to to the outer surface of the cylinders 30 and 32 to assist inconfining the web and to maintain a smooth ow of air currents which arecaused by the rotating cylinder.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to Ibe understood that the inventionis not limited to Athis precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from thevscope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for accordian folding of web materials of varyingthickness, comprising guideA means for receiving and directing the pathof the web, folding mechanism for forming tucks in the web materialalternatively in opposite directions and in predetermined spacedrelation lengthwise of the web material to initiate the accordianfolding thereof, shelf means positioned generally below said foldingmechanism for receiving the web material from said folding mechanism andto support the folded edges of the web temporarily initiating ltheaccordian folding thereof, a conveyor spaced below said shelf means forreceiving the folded web material from said shelf means, a power drivenroller spaced below said folding mechanism for moving the folded webfrom said shelf means onto said conveyor, vand means mounting saidroller for adjustable movement with respect to said shelf means toprovide an adjustment for different ,thicknesses of web material whilemaintaining a constantly uniform spacing of the folded web materialalong said conveyor. I

2. Apparatus for folding a web material in a zig-zag manner along linesof transverse perforations land adapted to receive webs of differentthicknesses, said apparatus comprising, a pair of folding cylindersrotatably mounted on parallel axes, a'set of folding jaws recessedwithin the peripheral surface of each cylinder, a pivotally mountedtucker blade projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of eachcylinder, cam means for closing and Vopening said folding jaws, cammeans for pivoting said tu'cker blade in timed relationship with theclosing of said jaws to enable the tip of said tucker blade to follow aline of transverse perforations, power operated means for rotating saidcylinders in opposite directions at the same speed, stripping-meansrigidly mounted adjacent the bottom surface of each cylinder forreleasing alternate folded edges of the web from said jaws and tosupport the edges momentarily after releasing, a power operated conveyorspaced below said cylinders for receiving the folded web from saidstripping means in a continuous Zig-zag manner, a power driven rollerhaving an axis parallel with the axis of said cylinders and spacedsubstantially midway lbetween said stripping means for moving the foldedweb from said stripping means onto said conveyor, and means foradjustably mounting said roller in relation to said conveyor and to saidcylinders to accommodate webs of different thickness and to provmannerand adapted to receive webs of different thicknesses, said apparatuscomprising, a pair of folding members rotatably mounted on parallelaxes, means mounted on said members for tucking the web materialalternatelyl in opposite directions land in predetermined spacedrelation lengthwise of the web material to initiate the zig-zag foldingthereof, power operated means `for rotating said folding members inopposite directions and in timed relationship, stripping means rigidlymounted below said members for releasing alternate folded edges of theweb from said members and to support the edges momentarily afterreleasing, a power opera-ted conveyor spaced below said members forreceiving the folded web from said stripping means in a continuouszig-zag manner, a power driven roller having an axis parallel with theaxis of said members and spaced substantially midway between saidstripping means for moving the folded web fromA said stripping meansonto said conveyor, and means for adjustably mounting said roller inrelation to said members and said stripping means to accommodate webs ofdifferent thickness and to provide each web with a consistently uniformspacing of the zig-zag folds along said conveyor.

4. Apparatus for. folding web material ina zig-zag manner and adapted toreceive webs of different thicknesses, said apparatus comprising, a pairof folding mem- *bers rotatably mounted on parallel axes, means mountedon said members for tucking the web material alternately in oppositedirections and in predetermined spaced relation lengthwise of the webmaterial to initiate the zig-zag folding thereof, power operated meansfor rotating said members in opposite directions in timed relationship,stripping means 4rigidly mounted Ibelow said members for releasingalternate folded edges of the web from said members and to support theedges momentarily after releasing, a power operated conveyor adjustablyspaced below said mem-bers for receiving -the folded web from said,stripping means in a continuous zig-zag manner, roller means on saidconveyor for directing a portion of said conveyor upwardly to form -aloop substantially midway between said stripping means, and means foradjustably mounting said roller in relation to said conveyor and to saidmembers to accommodate webs of different thickness and to provide eachweb with a consistently uniform spacing of the zig-zag folds along saidconveyor.

5. Apparatus for folding web material in a zig-zag manner and adapted toreceive webs of different thickness, said apparatus comprising, a pairof folding cylinders rotatably mounted on parallel axes, guide means fordirecting the web between said cylinders, a set of folding jaws recessedwithin the peripheral surface of each cylinder, one of said jaws 4beingmovable and the other rigidly mounted to said cylinder, a pivotallymounted tucker blade projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface ofeach cylinder, cam means for moving said movable jaw toward and awayfrom said rigidly mounted jaw for closing and opening said jaws, cammeans for pivoting said tucker blade in -timed relationship with themovement of sai-d movable jaw, power operated means for rotating saidcylinders in opposite directions for engagement of said tucker vbladebetween said folding jaws, stripping means rigidly mounted adjacent thebottom surface of each cylinder for releasing alternate folded edges ofthe web from said jaws, a power operated conveyor spaced below saidcylinders for receiving the lfolded web from said stripping means in acontinuous Zig-zag manner, roller means on said conveyor for directing a'portion of said conveyor`- upwardly to form a loop substantially midwaybetween said stripping means, and means for adjustably mounting saidroller means in relation to said stripping means and -to said cylindersto accommodate webs of different thickness and to provide each web witha consistently uniform spacing of the zig-zag folds along said conveyor.

6. Apparatus for folding web material in a zig-zag manner and adapted toreceive webs of different lthickness, said apparatus comprising, a pairof folding cylinders rotatably mounted on parallel axes, guide means fordirecting the web between said cylinders, means 4'mounted on saidcylinders for tucking the web material alternately in opposite.directions and in predetermined spaced relation lengthwise of the webmaterial to initiate the zig-zag folding thereof, power operated meansfor rotating said cylinders in opposite directions, stripping meansrigidly mounted adjacent the bottom surface of each cylinder forreleasing alternate folded edges of the web from said cylinders, a poweroperated conveyor spaced below said cylinders for receiving the foldedweb from said stripping means in a continuous zig-zag manner, aplurality of rollers on said conveyor for directing -a portion ofsaid'conveyor upwardly between said stripping means, and means foradjus'tably mounting at least two of said rollers in relation to theremaining portion of said conveyor and to said stripping means toaccommodate webs of different thickness and to provide each 9 10 webwith a consistently uniform spacing of the zig-zag 2,643,878 6/ 1953Lach 270-73 X folds along said conveyor. 2,765,164 10/1956 Hand 270-73References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 51,079,169 5/ 1954 France.

1,346,502 7/1920 Johnston 27o-39 EUGENE R- CAPOZIO, Pfmwv Examiner-2,506,004 5/ 1950 Ward et al. 270--7 3 X N. `MELLISON, AssistantExaminer.

1. APPARATUS FOR ACCORDIAN FOLDING OF WEB MATERIALS OF VARYINGTHICKNESS, COMPRISING GUIDE MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND DIRECTING THE PATHOF THE WEB, FOLDING MECHANISM FOR FORMING TUCKS IN THE WEB MATERALALTERNATIVELY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND IN PREDETERMINED SPACEDRELATION LENGTHWISE OF THE WEB MATERIAL TO INITIATE THE ACCORDIANFOLDING THEREOF, SHELF MEANS POSITIONED GENERALLY BELOW SAID FOLDINGMECHANISM FOR RECEIVING THE WEB MATERIAL FROM SAID FOLDING MECHANISM ANDTO SUPPORT THE FOLDED EDGES OF THE WEB TEMPORARILY INITIATING THEACCORDIAN FOLDING THEREOF, A CONVEYOR SPACED BELOW SAID SHELF MEANS FORRECEIVING THE FOLDED WEB MATERIAL FROM SAID SHELF MEANS, A POWER DRIVENROLLER SPACED BELOW SAID FOLDING MECHANISM FOR MOVING THE FOLDED WEBFROM SAID SHELF MEANS ONTO SAID CONVEYOR, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROLLERFOR ADJUSTABLE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID SHELF MEANS TO PROVIDE ANADJUSTMENT FOR DIFFERENT THICKNESSES OF WEB MATERIAL WHILE MAINTAINING ACONSTANTLY UNIFORM SPACING OF THE FOLDED WEB MATERIAL ALONG SAIDCONVEYOR.